Burnt Ends – 05/02/2016

The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point (and select edges) off a brisket and return those pieces to the smoker.

Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they heavenly bites of smoky goodness? It depends on who you ask…

Rather than discard the trimmings and fat, we choose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.

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The spring evaluation period is in full swing, and the Texas coaches hit the road with a mission on their minds.

While the primary objective will always be to see valued recruits and perform further evaluations, the Texas staff is also trying to re-establish a strong connection to Texas high school coaches. Jeff Traylor has been burning up the miles throughout east Texas, and the other members of the staff are pressing the flesh at high schools in their designated recruiting areas. We spoke to a coach in Fort Worth that met with Texas offensive line coach Matt Mattox last week. This particular coach is at a lower-level school with no players on the Texas radar, yet Mattox waited 20 minutes for him to be pulled out of class before sitting with him nearly an hour.

This coach told us that he was very impressed with Mattox, and said he could tell that the Texas staff was doing everything possible to establish the strong relationships with high school coaches that the Mack Brown staff benefited from for more than a decade. While this may seem like basics for a school like Texas, it was clear the coach we spoke with saw a change. He mentioned he was impressed that they called to confirm beforehand, and then actually showed up when they said they would. He made it clear that former Texas coach Bruce Chambers had not put in the same effort in the past.

As for Mattox himself, we were told that he came across as extremely down to earth, and appeared engaging and interested while talking with coaches. This is not surprising based on what we’ve been told in the past about him, but it’s safe to say the Longhorns are starting to make inroads to Texas high school coaches again.

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We have a quick note on Cedar Hill wide receiver Camron Buckley. Buckley told us a few weeks ago he planned to make a commitment announcement today, but after talking to him this weekend it looks like he will push that timeline back. Buckley was offered by Texas during the Under the Lights camp last summer, but with new offensive coaches on board it seems that Texas wants to evaluate him during the spring before accepting a commitment. Buckley is also looking closely at Ole Miss and Miami, but he formed a bond with Texas quarterback commit Sam Ehlinger. If Texas chooses to take Buckley, we have strong indications they would be the destination for the talented WR. We will keep a close eye on this one and update you if anything else becomes available.

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With the 2017 class under the microscope of spring evaluation, Texas got a jump on the 2018 class by extending an offer to Angleton athlete BJ Foster. Foster is an incredible prospect on both sides of the ball, and he is squarely in the mix to be the top player in the state for 2018. We spoke with Foster following his offer to get the goods on where Texas sits in his recruitment.

We asked Foster what a Texas offer meant to him, and he told us he was excited about it while also acknowledging he would take his time with the process. “They are a great school, but I’m still young and have lots of time to think about it,” said Foster. The Texas coaches haven’t had a lot of contact with Foster, but Clay Jennings reached out to the Angleton staff to let them know their star player had an offer on the table from Texas. Foster hasn’t been to campus yet, but he did tell us he plans to visit this summer.

While many kids in the state grow up watching Texas on Saturdays, Foster told us he didn’t really watch anyone growing up. “I really didn’t watch football when I was little. I had my mind somewhere else, but when Quandre (Diggs) was there I watched them all the time.” Angleton High School has been good to the Longhorns throughout the years. The Houston area program produced Quentin Jammer, DJ Monroe, and Quandre Diggs. Foster told us that Diggs and Monroe went to school with his sister and cousins, and he grew up around both of them. Diggs even reached out to Foster on twitter following the offer announcement to do some recruiting.

Foster plays both at running back and safety in high school, and he shows the talent to stick at either position at the next level. We asked him which position he preferred, and he wasted no time telling us which position and why. “Defensive back,” said Foster. “They get to deliver the hits, not take them.” While Foster told us he’s taking his time with the process, he made it clear that Texas is a heavy favorite for his services early on.

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Texas Linebacker Dalton Santos elected to become a graduate transfer today. That brings about a reminder that this is the time of year when a few players will depart the program. Players are meeting with the coaching staff following the spring, and we expect to hear more names that have been passed on the depth chart. While this is not the space to speculate on who might transfer, we have heard a few names. The likely candidates are players in a stacked position group that have been passed up on the depth chart by younger players. We will keep you updated on any transfers as they happen, but every program experiences healthy attrition each year.